LORAIN -- "We won," yelled Lorain City School Superintendent Tom Tucker to a roar of cheers at the school's watch party at the Elks.

The district passed its first additional levy in 20 years, according to unofficial election results.

Voters approved the levy with 9,975 voting for it and 8442 voting against it, unofficial results from the Lorain County Board of Elections.

The 4.8-mill emergency operating levy is expected to bring $3 million annually for the district and last seven years.

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More importantly, it -- along with additional cuts -- should keep the district from being declared in fiscal emergency which would result in a state takeover of the schools.

The levy will cost the homeowner of a $75,000 roughly $108 annually.

"We kept the amount very reasonable," Tucker said as an explanation of the district passing its first levy since 1992. "We've made some promises to people that we intend to keep."

One of those promises is a return to full-day kindergarten, which Tucker said he expects to have back in place by the beginning of next year.

"It definitely gives us some breathing room," he said.

The district has been struggling after decreases in state funding starting in 2010 and enrollment numbers declined. The district lost more than 300 students in the 2011-12 school year.

Another promise Tucker plans to keep is to shore up the district's administrative staff.

"The administrative cuts, I've said all along are still coming," he said.

If the district had reach fiscal emergency -- which was previously estimated to happen by Spring 2013 -- a state appointed Financial Planning and Supervision Commission would be established. The five-member commission -- made up of three appointed members and two state officials or designees of those officials -- must be formed within 15 days after fiscal emergency is declared by the state auditor.

"It appears we probably won't hit that mark with the projections we have," Tucker said after unofficial results came in.

Now that the district is less worried about fiscal emergency, Tucker said the focus will be bringing the district out of academic emergency, the lowest possible rating a school could get and one only received by two districts in the entire state.

"We've got to move forward," he said. "I feel a debt of gratitude and I promise I will follow through.

"I and my team will make sure we do right by the children," he said.

School Board Vice President Bill Sturgill said he felt lighter after the announcement.

"I'm just elated that we finally won one," he said. "We are not out of the forest yet, but at least we can see the light, we can see a way out."